Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Markup

The committee will come to order. The chair recogniz recognizes himself for an opening statement. Welcome to today's energy subcommittee markup of eight bills to restore consumer choice, reduce energy and housing costs, remove burdensome regulatory structures. When selecting appliances or equipment for their home or business, Americans take many factors into consideration. Cost, reliability, size, and durability to name a few. It is imperative to consumers that they have a wide range of products so they can choose what works best for their needs. Under the last administration, nearly 30 energy efficiency standards were issued totaling over $60 billion in cost removing products from the market, resulting in fewer options for Americans. HR 4626, the Don't Mess with My Home Appliances Act, would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to reform the statutory procedures for issuing or amending energy efficiency standards. This will result in standards that truly meet the statutory requirements of EPA and provide both manufacturers and consumers with certainty. Especially as we head into winter, consumers must have access to durable, afford, durable, affordable appliances to perform critical functions like home heating while still prioritizing energy efficiency and associated cost savings. Airtight building envelopes are also important for consumers, especially in the o colder months to keep to keep warm and and to keep the warmth in the utility bills low. That is why the subcommittee will be considering HR 4758, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, to repeal sections of the Inflation Reduction Act that essentially bribe states to recklessly adopt unmended building codes. Brian uh Telemp, a witness in September of his legislative hearing, said it best. I think we can all agree that American families deserve safe, strong, and efficient homes, but we need to have a better pathway forward that gives local control, encourages innovation, and keeps homes within reach of Americans. The passage of HR 4758 is an important step towards accomplishing that shared goal. The subcommittee will also consider HR 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, a repeal of section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act, which require DOE to phase out fossil fuel use in federal buildings across the country. This policy which was opposed by even the Obama administration not only poses a significant national security risk but it could in fact increase energy consumption as the direct use of natural gas is about 92% efficient compared to 33% for electricity. This is is is a significant delta energy efficiency not not bands are important to prioritize for our federal buildings. to look forward to considering HR 3474, the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act, which is a bipartisan legislation to require an assessment of whether mechanical insulation should be installed or updated in federal building energy audits. This is a common pl a common sense measure that truly prioritizes energy efficiency. The subcommittee will also consider HR 3699, the Energy Choice Act, which prohibits any state or local policy from banning access to an energy service based on the type or source of energy that is sold. States like New York, which ban natural gas use, are forcing consumers to incur significant costs while jeopardizing the reliability during the winter months. This must change. Duplicative standards and regulations have also impacted housing, appliance, and equipment affordability for millions of Americans. HR5184, the Affordable Homes Act, will repeal duplicative energy efficiency standards for manufactured housing and HR4593, the shower act, will codify a simple definition of a showerhead, providing more options for consumers. Lastly, the subcommittee will consider HR 3055, the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025 with the understanding that we hope to reach a bipartisan agreement prior to a fall committee uh sorry, a full committee markup. I thank the gentleman from New York and minority professional staff for continuing to work with us toward a compromise. The legislation for us today represents an opportunity for this committee to implement reforms that rep prioritize energy efficiency policies towards the items that matter most to consumers, affordability, availability, and durability. I urge all my KE colleagues to support these pieces of legislation. And with that, I yield